divulge

English

Etymology

From Latin divulgare, from di- (“widely”) + vulgare (“publish”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /daɪˈvʌld͡ʒ/, /dɪˈvʌld͡ʒ/

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• Rhymes: -ʌldʒ

Verb

divulge (third-person singular simple present divulges, present participle divulging, simple past and past participle divulged)

1. (transitive) To make public or known; to communicate to the public; to tell (information, especially a secret) so that it may become generally known.

   Synonym: disclose

   I will never divulge that secret to anyone.

   • 2016 December 8, “The president-elect's EPA head may not believe in climate change”, in The Economist:

     In an interview with The Economist last year, he insisted his attack on the CPP had nothing to do with his views on global warming, which he would not divulge.

   • 1910, Stephen Leacock, “How to Avoid Getting Married”, in Literary Lapses:

     Here then is a letter from a young man whose name I must not reveal, but whom I will designate as D. F., and whose address I must not divulge, but will simply indicate as Q. Street, West.

2. To indicate publicly; to proclaim.
   • 1671, John Milton, “The Third Book”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: J. M for John Starkey , →OCLC:

     God... marks The just man, and divulges him through heaven.

Synonyms

• bewray, bring out, uncover, disclose, discover, expose, give away, impart, let on, let out, reveal; see also Thesaurus:divulge

Related terms

• divulgation
• divulgement

Translations